Does anyone know how the BEAM module actually expands? Is it actually inflated by internal air pressure, or is there some other means by which the walls are moved out into its final position? Also, if the air were to be sucked out of the module, would it collapse or would the walls retain their "expanded" shape?
I mean to ask not how it will look, but what actually causes the expansion. Is it inflated, or is there an expanding truss inside, or is it something else?
Every one Talk about , That BEAM has to go after 2 Years Berceuse it has to make room for somethin else dos any one know what is planed to this port.is there a generell overview of outstanding Hardware proposed.
What will happen to BEAM after the evaluation is done? Will it remain part of ISS as an extra module, to be used for cargo space? If a BA-330 were to later be attached to the ISS, then would it potentially replace the BEAM and be attached where the BEAM now is?
Quote from: whitelancer64 on 04/19/2016 02:39 pmDoes anyone know how the BEAM module actually expands? Is it actually inflated by internal air pressure, or is there some other means by which the walls are moved out into its final position? Also, if the air were to be sucked out of the module, would it collapse or would the walls retain their "expanded" shape?The answer to your questions are in this video of the CRS-8 science conference. Robert Bigelow and Jason Crusan (Director of NASA Advanced exploration system division) are the last in the conference and answer your questions.It begin around 45 minutes in the video.<snip>In short: BEAM will be inflated by the ISS ventilation system (by the inter module fans). The compress air bottles inside BEAM will equalize the pressure once beam is inflated. It also keep its shape if it lose its pressure.I Hope it helps.
I think (if I remember correctly) there's some clearance issues with the Tranquility Aft berthing position, it's pointed directly at the Japanese Kibo module. I'm not sure a BA330 could fit there.
Hmm, and the orange thing is the "tentpole", right?Gee, so what's inside the walls themselves? I know there are layers of Kevlar or that parachute material Vectran, but what else are the walls composed of?I thought that there were inflatable cavities inside the walls that would literally inflate the walls to rigidify them and thicken them up that way. I also thought that this might allow for a technological upgrade path to inflating the walls with foam one day. Somebody ought to at least look into that.
What is the thickness of the walls after deployment?
What is the procedure if any kind of puncture of any type occurs?
Is there any danger of a Bigelow module being punctured from the inside? Is it sufficiently armored against internal protrusions?What is the procedure if any kind of puncture of any type occurs?
Any news on the timeline/date for the expansion of the module?
I have been unable to find any direct sources on the interior dimensions of BEAM, so I'm going to math it out. BEAM has a pressurized volume of 565 cubic feet (16 cubic meters), per NASAhttps://www.nasa.gov/feature/beam-facts-figures-faqsThe walls of Bigelow BA330 modules are about 18 inches (0.45 m) thick, per PopSci (and a few other places)http://www.popsci.com/can-billionaire-robert-bigelow-create-a-life-for-humans-in-spaceSince BEAM is the prototype for the production Bigelow modules, I'm assuming that the walls are the same thickness. So two walls would be 36 inches or .91 meters. Let's assume the berthing port and bulkhead at the end of the module are half that. With expanded external dimensions of 4 m length x 3.23 m diameter, subtracting the walls give the module internal dimensions of approx. 3.55 length x 2.32 m diameter. Input those numbers for the volume of a cylinder gives us about 15 cubic meters, on the order of what the actual volume is. I presume the wall thicknesses on the berthing port and the bulkhead on the end of the module are actually thinner than assumed, which probably makes up the majority of the discrepancy, and the curve of the walls the rest.
Quote from: whitelancer64 on 01/24/2017 11:13 pmI have been unable to find any direct sources on the interior dimensions of BEAM, so I'm going to math it out. BEAM has a pressurized volume of 565 cubic feet (16 cubic meters), per NASAhttps://www.nasa.gov/feature/beam-facts-figures-faqsThe walls of Bigelow BA330 modules are about 18 inches (0.45 m) thick, per PopSci (and a few other places)http://www.popsci.com/can-billionaire-robert-bigelow-create-a-life-for-humans-in-spaceSince BEAM is the prototype for the production Bigelow modules, I'm assuming that the walls are the same thickness. So two walls would be 36 inches or .91 meters. Let's assume the berthing port and bulkhead at the end of the module are half that. With expanded external dimensions of 4 m length x 3.23 m diameter, subtracting the walls give the module internal dimensions of approx. 3.55 length x 2.32 m diameter. Input those numbers for the volume of a cylinder gives us about 15 cubic meters, on the order of what the actual volume is. I presume the wall thicknesses on the berthing port and the bulkhead on the end of the module are actually thinner than assumed, which probably makes up the majority of the discrepancy, and the curve of the walls the rest.This article gives an internal diameter of 127 inches (3.226 m) and a final length of 158 inches (4.013 m) after full expansion (it does not explicitly state that the length is internal but seems likely).https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/05/28/beam-expanded-to-full-size/Similarly:http://www.americaspace.com/?p=93584